A Good Deliverance by Tooby Clements and narrated by Matt Addis is a fantastic historical novel set in Warwick 1468 and the audiobook is so good I have put it on my "To buy list" for print and audio. It is defo a book that is so much fun that it will be a pleasure to revisit

The story is captivating, full of dry humour and reminiscing as Sir Thomas Malory,politician, courtier, and outlaw, languishes in Newgate prison with noo knowledge of why he is there and if he will live to see another day, or be dragged to exectution

Matt Addis was the perfectchoice to narrate this audiobook as he gives just the right amount of nuance to each character

My first book by Toby Clements and certainly will not be the last!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio, Toby Clements and the narrator Matt Addis for this ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A fascinating story, an immersive experience that the voice of the narrator made possibile.
I enjoyed the storytelling, the setting, and intriguing plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a genuinely remarkable book. I’ve enjoyed other historical fiction by Toby Clements and as a child, I relished any story involving King Arthur, Excalibur, Lancelot etc. I have to confess I knew almost nothing about Sir Thomas Mallory and reading the blurb for A Good Deliverance, I was intrigued by the possibility of his life story as a work of fiction. It’s amazing. Woven around a few known facts, Clements has brought this individual to loud and vivid life. Obviously it’s an interpretative take, but it sounds very credible. I have a clear view of a man filled with his own importance; he’s bombastic, arrogant and almost larger than life. But he was also a keen observer and recorder and responsible for one of the greatest works in literature.

Clements has used his skill as a storyteller to create a plausible scenario where Mallory, imprisoned and fearing his end is near, recounts the adventures of his life. It’s absolutely packed with detail, again woven around historic events, and as a listener, I was totally transported to a different era. The narration is superb and lifts the text to another level, with parts playing like a radio drama. This really is the best historical fiction. Lively, entertaining and totally immersive. A wonderful achievement.; so good I’ll be listening this again, something I rarely do. I’ll also be revisiting Mallory’s work with a fresh insight into the man.

Warwick, 1468. Sir Thomas Malory has been arrested and taken to Newgate Prison, but he has no clue why. Fearing the worst, he wonders if this will be his last day on earth.
So when the door to his cell opens he is relieved to see a boy of about twelve summers and a potential audience to listen to his life story. He is desperate to tell the story of his life, from his past glories on and off the battlefield, to writing the first book of fiction about the great King Arthur.
With his future uncertain will Sir Thomas finish his tale before he finds out his fate?
A truly wonderful story, written with great detail and aplomb.
Toby Clements is one of those authors who transports his readers into the past better than most, the story is delightful and characters are intriguing and the atmosphere is perfect.
This kind of story really is what makes me love historical fiction. Simply sublime.
This book is wonderfully narrated by the superb Matt Addis, a narrator who knows how to bring a story to life. This really is a fine piece of work. Thanks to Bolinda Audio for allowing me to listen to one of their fine audiobooks, it was a true pleasure.

Sir Thomas Malory has been taken to Newgate Prison for reasons unknown. It is 1468 and Malory finds himself in his old cell once again. Feeling lost and unnerved he finds peace in meeting the Gaoler’s 12 year old son. Malory will tell the boy, who becomes a willing audience of his life and adventures.

Would never have believed a book based on a man’s memories while stuck in jail could be so intriguing. Really well written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). Captivating listen, enjoy.

Being a fan of the author's previous series ("Kingmaker") and having a passing interest in the War of the Roses, I only had to glance at the description of this book and the first two words - "Warwick, 1468" were enough to persuade me to start listening straighaway.

I did enjoy the story and how Sir Thomas Malory's life was affected by the political landscape of England in the early-mid 15th century (The author does a brilliant job of introducing the big names of this time without it being too confusing, and Matt Addis's voice talents really help bring each of the characters to life) but Malory is not a character you can easily fall in love with; he is an arrogant, self important man who loves the sound of his own voice.
This is surely a intentional choice by the author though, for as much as Sir Thomas wishes to paint himself a chivalric hero in the vein of his favourite King Arthur stories, he gets so caught up in telling his tales to young master Brunt that the facts seem to tell of something much different. (I will admit that I did find myself softening to him towards the end, but still not enough to like the man.)


For story alone; I was hovering around the 3 - 3.5 stars mark as I enjoyed the main plot, the descriptive writing style of the author and numerous funny moments sprinkled throughout the story - but it is the work of the narrator that really helped push my review up to 4 stars by bringing the work to life and making me feel like I was the one trapped in a room, being forced to listen to the tales of Sir Thomas Mallory from the man himself.